Chapter 95: 95: Next Comes Vampire Time

There were three major vampire families in England. The Mystics—Van Draugr and Bognart—stood in sharp contrast to the Warlocks, the House of Vancia. Everyone knew that the rule-abiding Mystics and the power-hungry Warlocks, who dreamed of dominating Muggles, had been at odds for centuries. In England, the weaker Vancia family found themselves constantly hunted. Vampire hunters despised them. The Church despised them. White wizards despised them. Even the Mystic vampires despised them. And with werewolves as natural enemies, the Warlocks rarely enjoyed a peaceful day. As for the Mystics—Van Draugr and Bognart had been allies for the past ten thousand years. Their cooperation stretched far back into the annals of history. In the time of Grand Duchess Felicia, Leonard of the Bognart family became one of her most trusted partners. Unlike the Van Draugr, who preferred the quiet countryside, the Bognart vampires thrived in the heart of the city. They lived in London. If you wandered the city at night, it wasn't uncommon to see Bognart vampires strolling through the streets in oversized hoodies or football jerseys. They followed Muggle laws, indulged in regular nightlife, and even maintained steady Muggle partners. With consent, they drank from their lovers to survive—a practice that made them even more amiable than the Van Draugr. Leonard was no exception. Though, to many Muggles, he was hardly seen as a good man. This was largely because Leonard's list of girlfriends had grown to around five hundred—and counting. He had a habit of offering his blood to his lovers before they could age, preventing them from succumbing to time. Thus, Leonard's collection of partners only grew larger. "Why can't you just let them grow old and die like normal people?" A young Nolan once asked Leonard this, watching as thirty of Leonard's girlfriends squabbled over him. Leonard's answer had been simple: "When you have your first Muggle girlfriend, you'll understand. You never watch her lose to time. You never let her beauty fade beneath wrinkles." He was a hopeless romantic. And an absolute fool. Now, Leonard seemed to have taken quite the interest in Libera and Ulisa. He lavished them with attention, eager to present them with the latest treasure he'd acquired—an AB-type virgin he'd been saving. "Leonard, you idiot," Miss Nancy snapped irritably. "They belong to the Van Draugr family! Are you out of your mind? Felicia will definitely want to have words with you when she gets back." "Oh, dear Miss Nancy, don't say such sad things." Leonard laughed, scooping Nancy into his arms and twirling her around the room. Nancy, who was terrified of heights and easily nauseated, shrieked. "Put me down! Leonard, you absolute buffoon!" By the time Nolan pried Nancy out of Leonard's arms, her golden slit pupils were spinning in circles. She wobbled like a drunkard, collapsing into Ulisa's arms for support. Nolan trailed Leonard to a nearby table. Leonard was grinning from ear to ear. He summoned two of his girlfriends to his side, one nestled on each arm. He kissed one and hugged the other before leaning conspiratorially toward Nolan. "Want me to find you some company? We've brought in some Veela from France recently. They're willing to work for the family in exchange for protection. If you'd like, I can send a few your way." Nolan raised an eyebrow. "That's the difference between Bognart and Van Draugr. We don't dilute our bloodlines with lower creatures." "Oh, come now," Leonard chuckled. "They're adorable. In my eyes, any cute girl is worth cherishing." Nolan scoffed, shoving Leonard away. "What's so adorable about Veela who are willing to sell themselves? You shouldn't be sharing blood with such creatures. I've never liked them." "Alright, alright. If you insist..." Leonard's eyes wandered longingly toward Libera and Ulisa, seated gracefully on either side of Nolan. His gaze flickered back to his own two companions—both giggling as they clung to his arms. It was at moments like this that Leonard truly grasped the benefits of Van Draugr's elitist policies. "Enough, Leonard," Nolan interjected. "You know I don't enjoy small talk. Why did you call me to London this time? Don't tell me it's for another one of those 'Maiden Hunts.'" "Hmm? Oh, last year's event? If you're interested, I can organize another..." Leonard's tone was light until his expression darkened. "But no, this time it's about the Church." "The Church? What have they done this time?" Leonard's grin thinned. "Ever since we took down their Saintess three years ago, there haven't been many exorcists left in the Church willing to cross us. But last month..." Leonard leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. "The Church appointed a new Holy Son. Arrogant bastard. He's been hunting our kind in London—alone." Nolan couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it. The Church's combat ability had always been laughable. At the end of the day, they were just Muggles wielding faith. Faith didn't grant them the power to wield the Mysteries. The Church's warriors were no match for supernatural creatures. They might manage with martial arts or firearms, but they were leagues below professional vampire hunters. In Nolan's memory, the only Church member who had ever posed a real threat was the Saintess from three years ago. But the Saintess was gone. All that remained were the dregs. "If he's only hunting rogue vampires, there's no reason for us to intervene," Nolan said indifferently. "Frankly, rogues are more of a nuisance than anything. They trespass on our territory, disrupting the Mystic balance. We're better off without them." Leonard's fingers drummed against the table in a slow, deliberate rhythm. His gaze darkened. "This one's different. He's targeting the Bognart casinos." Nolan's faint smile faded. "Does he not know the rules?" "Oh, I'm sure he knows." Leonard let out a low chuckle. "The Church even sent an apology today. They can't control their Holy Son. That fool's gone completely feral. I'm telling you, Nolan—this one's dangerous. He carries an unnatural hatred for vampires, and it runs deeper than anything I've seen." The weight of Leonard's words settled over Nolan like a cold mist. A mad dog. The Church's Holy Son for the year had gone rogue, tearing through vampires indiscriminately. And the most troubling part—he wasn't just targeting strays. He was killing members of the Bognart family. Somehow, he had discovered a way to destroy even bloodline vampires. "This..." Nolan's eyes narrowed, a quiet lethality dripping from his voice. "This is an insult to the Mystics. He's crossed the line." Leonard raised a brow. "So? What's the verdict, Nolan?" "Simple." Nolan's gaze turned cold and predatory. "We hunt him. Leonard—start the hunt." Leonard swirled his wine lazily, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Already decided, huh? Nolan, I don't doubt you, but..." He wagged a playful finger. "Are you sure it's fine to make that call in Grand Duchess Felicia's stead?" Nolan met Leonard's eyes, unwavering. "I am." There was steel in his voice as he added, "Felicia would make the same decision if she were here. The Church seems to have forgotten the terror of living beneath our shadow. Let's remind them." Nolan's lips curved into a predatory smirk. "It's hunting season. And the night belongs to us." ~~~---------------------- Patreon Advance Chapters: patreon .com / HPdreame